Round Cut Lab Grown Diamond Ring with Cluster Set Shoulders in Silver, 10K, 14K and 18K Gold

A round brilliant laboratory grown diamond with small round diamonds clustered around the shoulders, set at slightly different heights and angles rather than in a straight row. The effect is scattered and organic, closer to the way frost forms than to a conventional pave band.

At a glance

• Centre stone: Round brilliant laboratory grown diamond
• Carat options: 2, 3, 4 and 5 carat
• Colour and clarity: E colour, VVS2 clarity
• Certificate: IGI, included free
• Setting: Claw set centre with clustered accent diamonds on the shoulders
• Accent stones: Round brilliant laboratory grown diamonds in graduated sizes, E colour, VVS2
• Band: Slim shank, plain at the back
• Metals: 925 silver, 10K, 14K and 18K gold in yellow, rose and white
• Made: To order in Surat, India

Scattered rather than lined up

The accent diamonds are different sizes and they sit at different distances from the centre, some tucked close against the head and some further out along the shank. Nothing is in a straight line. A row of identical stones reads as machine made; a cluster like this reads as something grown, which is why the style keeps being asked for by people who do not want a conventional engagement ring.

Set individually, each in its own claws

Every accent has its own small claws rather than being bead set into a channel. It takes far longer, it uses more metal, and it is the reason each little stone stands proud enough to catch light on its own instead of blurring into the one next to it. It also means a single accent can be retipped later without disturbing the others.

The band goes plain at the back

The clusters stop partway down each shoulder and the rest of the shank is smooth. Stones under the finger take the wear and stop the ring being resized, so keeping the back clear is both a practical and an aesthetic decision.

What laboratory grown means here

A laboratory grown diamond is a diamond. It is crystallised carbon with the same cubic structure, the same 10 on the Mohs scale, the same refractive index of 2.42 and the same dispersion as a mined stone. Ours are grown by chemical vapour deposition and high pressure high temperature methods, then cut and polished by hand. This is not moissanite, not cubic zirconia and not a simulant. A gemmologist testing it will read diamond, because it is diamond.

Metals

Choose 925 sterling silver, or 10K, 14K or 18K gold in yellow, rose or white. This ring was photographed in yellow gold, and every metal is made to order and priced above. White gold is rhodium plated and will want replating every one to two years.

Every centre stone arrives IGI certified

The centre diamond is graded by IGI, the International Gemological Institute, and the certificate comes with the ring at no extra charge. It states the carat weight, the E colour grade, the VVS2 clarity grade, the measurements and the girdle inscription, and confirms in writing that the stone is laboratory grown. Every accent is matched to the same E and VVS2 grade.

Made to order in our own workshop

Mapple Gems is a family run workshop in Surat, India, where most of the world's diamonds are cut and polished. The cluster is laid out stone by stone on the shoulder before any seat is cut, and both sides are balanced against each other by eye rather than measured, because a cluster that is mathematically symmetrical stops looking organic. Allow two to three weeks for making, plus shipping.

Looking after it

Warm water, mild washing up liquid and a soft toothbrush. There are many small gaps between the clustered stones and they hold hand cream, so brush the shoulders properly from both sides rather than just rinsing. Take the ring off for the gym, gardening and swimming.

Questions we are asked

What colour and clarity are the diamonds? The centre round and every accent are E colour and VVS2 clarity, on all metals and all carat weights.

Does the carat weight include the accents? No. The 2, 3, 4 and 5 carat options refer to the centre round brilliant. The cluster stones are in addition.

Will the accent stones fall out? Each one is individually claw set, which is more secure than bead setting for small stones on a shoulder. We recommend a check every couple of years, as with any ring carrying small stones.

Is the certificate really free? Yes. The IGI report for the centre stone is included in the price on every variant.

Will a wedding band sit flush? Not quite. The clusters come down onto the shoulders, so a straight band meets them. A curved or contoured band nests against the cluster, and we make those to match.

Can it be resized? Yes, at the back where the shank is plain. One or two sizes either way is straightforward.

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